At first glance Toile Blanche, in the French Riviera town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, appears to be an absolutely classic farmhouse hotel; renovated, certainly, but timeless in its appeal. Like so many others, it’s family-owned and -operated, but in this case the family in question is Nicolas, Gilles, and Gregory Leroy, a trio of “Post-Internet” artists operating as the Leroy Brothers collective. And Toile Blanche isn’t just a farmhouse-style luxury boutique hotel displaying a vast selection of their work, though it’s certainly that — it’s also a carefully curated experience in its own right, every detail chosen with the utmost care. In typical French Riviera boutique-hotel style the atmosphere is at once thoroughly relaxed and effortlessly chic. The suites mix rustic Provençal architecture with modern furniture and carefully composed contemporary design; all are luxurious, none more so than the Mas de l’Artiste, a two-bedroom maisonette occupying the original farmhouse itself. La Guinguette serves a light lunch in a garden setting, while Le Restaurant takes care of dinner, served on the terrace with a view of the valley. And as proud as they are of Toile Blanche, your hosts will encourage you to get out and see the local galleries and museums.
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